Skimmer for swimming pools and the like



April 28, 1970 J. DIEMOND ETAL 3,503,661

SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 7, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 L l/V VEA/TORS JOSEPH DIEMOIVD, MEL wv K Gama/M4,

,4 TTOR/VE V April 28, 1970 J. DIEMOND ET AL 3,

SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. '7, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 //v VEN 70/?5 (loss/ u D/EMOAID, M51. w/v K Gwen MAM,

FRED 4. E4 was v April 28, 1970 J. DIEMOND ET AL 3,508,661

SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 7. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I 24 I l6 1 E u i ii 5 w I a 1 im 1 40 g r m April 28, 1970 J. DIEMOND ET AL 3,508,661

SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 7, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lA/l/EA/fORS JOSEPH D/sMm/o, MEL W K GEREHMAM,

F 50 14. Ra /F55 Y HTTOF/VEY United States Patent 3,508,661 SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Joseph Diernond, Simsbury, and Melvin Y. Gershman,

West Hartford, Conn., and Fred A. Ravreby, Framingham, Mass., assignors to Coleco Industries, Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 797,396 Int. Cl. E04h 3/20 U.S. Cl. 210169 28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A skimmer for the sidewall of swimming pools and other liquid-containing tanks has a face member with a major flow opening for mounting on the inside of the sidewall. The housing on the outside of the sidewall has at least one aperture registering with the major flow opening and a discharge flow passage adjacent the lower end thereof. A float assembly in the housing includes a float member adapted to control the flow of fluid into the discharge flow passage. Either or both the face member and the float assembly have a relatively small flow opening therein providing for passage of liquid into the housing and control means for varying the size of the flow opening.

BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION It is customary to provide gutters or overflow devices on larger swimming pools to remove the surface portion of the water which contains scum. This also removes floating debris such as leaves, lint, hair and the like to maintain the cleanliness of the pool. Generally, this overflow or skimmed surface portion is circulated through a screen or strainer and then through a filter of sand or other suitable filter media before being reintroduced to the pool.

With above ground swimming pools particularly and with some below ground pools, skimming devices are frequently employed at one point about the sidewall only and these include a housing into which the water flows. Some form of a weir or float is employed which is res onsive to water level in the housing to control water flow into the interior of the housing and the discharge passage therefrom. In adddition, it is customary to provide vacuum cleaner attachments which are used to remove debris below and on top of the surface of the water, and the water drawn off by this attachment is generally screened, filtered and returned to the pool.

Since the volume of water flowing into the overflow device or surface skimmer will vary with the water level and the turbulence of the water, it is customary to provide a selected volume of water flow through the filter from a point below the surface to avoid injury to the pump and to maintain optimum filtering action. Accordingly, the weir or float element in the skimmer must control skimmer flow in cooperation with flow through the passage below the surface of the water.

Many devices of the skimmer type have been proposed and marketed. Some of these employ pivotable weirs and others floating plates, floating curtains and telescoping intakes. Some permit the vacuum cleaner to be plugged into the discharge flow passage of the skimmer housing to the filter, and others provide a below-surface bypass. However, such devices generally require disassembly of parts to vary the bypass flow or to permit insertion of the vacuum cleaner hose thereinto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel self-contained skimmer for the sidewall of swimming pools and the like which enables facile, close control of the water skimmed from the surface during use as well as of the volume of water withdrawn from below the surface of the pool.

It is also an object to provide such a skimmer which enables facile connection of a vacuum cleaner hose thereinto.

Another object is to provide such a skimmer which may be readily fabricated from synthetic plastic material and which is relatively simple to adjust and maintain.

A further object is to provide a skimmer into which a vacuum cleaner hose may be plugged from the inside of the pool and whereby vacuum of the pump may be concentrated on the liquid passing through the hose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained in a self-contained skimmer for mounting on the sidewall of a tank containing a liquid. The skimmer has a face member with a principal flow opening therein of relatively large size and a skimmer housing has a front wall with at least one aperture therein providing a flow passage thereinto from the flow opening in the face member. The skimmer housing also has a flow passage outwardly therefrom below the aperture in the front wall and adjacent the lower end thereof for discharge of liquid. A float assembly is mounted within the housing and includes a float member adapted to rise and fall with the level of water in the housing. At least one of the face member and the float assembly has a relatively small flow opening therein providing for passage of liquid from the tank into the interior of said housing and also has a control means thereon for varying the size of the relatively small flow opening. The control means permits passage of a variable amount of liquid from the tank through the relatively small flow opening into the housing and thereby into the flow passage outwardly therefrom. Suitable means are included for securing the face member and housing in assembly on opposite surfaces of the sidewall of the tank.

In the preferred embodiment, the face member has the relatively small flow opening therein below the principal flow opening and the control means thereon and the front wall of the housing is apertured so as to provide a flow passage thereinto from the aperture in the face member. Desirably, the face member has two flow openings below the principal flow opening and a sealing element closing the flow opening other than that provided with the variable control means.

The second flow opening with the sealing element is adapted to receive the end of a vacuum cleaner hose so that the pump and filter assembly used with the skimmer may be employed to induce flow through the vacuum cleaner hose into the skimmer.

In another embodiment, the controlled flow passage is provided in the float assembly which has a base member secured in the housing below the relatively large flow opening and a telescoping sleeve extending between the base member and float member. The base and float members have apertures therein about which the sleeve extends to provide the flow passage from the upper surface of the float. In one form, the aperture in the float member has the control means thereon to vary the flow passage. In another form, the base member has at least one additional flow aperture outwardly of the sleeve and the control means mounted thereon. If so desired, two or three types of throttle type flow control devices may be combined.

In the optimum embodiment which utilizes at least one relatively small opening in the face member, the float assembly has a base member secured in the housing between the relatively large flow opening and the relatively small flow opening, and a telescoping sleeve extending between the base member and the float member with the float and base members having apertures therein to provide a flow passage from the upper surface of the float member through the sleeve and into the bottom portion of the housing for discharge of liquid therefrom through the discharge flow pasasge. The telescoping sleeve is preferably an accordion-like pleated element that is relatively extensible and compressible, and the float member preferably includes control means thereon for varying the size of the flow aperture therein.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the face member of a skimmer has a principal flow opening therein of relatively large size and at least one other flow opening of relatively small size therebelow. The face member includes a sealing element for closing the relatively small flow opening which is dimensioned and configured to permit the insertion thereinto of a vacuum cleaner hose. The housing has at least one aperture therein providing a flow passage thereinto from both of the flow openings in the face member and a flow passage outwardly from the housing below the aperture in the front wall and adjacent the lower end thereof for discharge of liquid flowing into the housing. A float assembly in the housing about the relatively small size flow opening includes a float member adapted to rise and fall with the level of water in the housing and to restrict the flow of liquid passing from the tank into the passage outwardly of the housing. The vacuum cleaner flow opening permits passage of liquid from the tank through the hose into the housing and into the discharge flow passage, and either or both the housing and float assembly have means thereon adapted to preclude substantially the flow of liquid from the tank into the housing except through the vacuum flow opening so that the vacuum of the pump may be concentrated therein.

BRIEF DECRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a surface skimmer embodying the present invention with the throttle closed;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a skimmer as mounted on the sidewall of a tank which is fragmentarily illustrated and with the float in an elevated position;

FIGURE 3 is a section view along the line 3-3 of- FIGURE 2 with arrows showing the direction of water flow;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view to a reduced scale of the skimmer mounted on the sidewall of a p ool to show water level and with a portion of the housing and face plate broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view to a reduced scale of the float element;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the float assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a partially exploded fragmentary view of the face member; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a base plate for a float assembly providing another embodiment of throttle aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Turning first to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings, therein illustrated is a surafce skimmer mounted in an aperture inthe sidewall 10 of a swimming pool. The skimmer is comprised of a face member generally designated by the numeral 12 and mounted on the inside surface of the wall 10, a housing generally designated by the numeral 14 and a float assembly generally designated by the numeral 16 which is mounted within the housing 14.

The face member 12 utilizes a plate-like support member 18 with a relatively large, generally rectangular flow aperture 20 therein and a pair of relatively small, flow apertures 22, 24 therebelow. A pair of inwardly extending ribs 26, 28 extend in parallel spaced relationship about the periphery of the support member 18 and thus define a peripheral channel therebetween as well as provide enhanced rigidity. The rib 28 extends about the side and top edges of the large aperture 20, and an additional rib 30 extends between the side portions of the rib 28 along the bottom edge of the large aperture 20.

As seen in FIGURE 7, a cylindrical rib 31 with a slight inward taper extends inwardly to a greater depth than the ribs 26, 28 about the periphery of the vacuum cleaner aperture to provide a firm seat for the coupling 33 of a vacuum cleaner hose (not shown). A short horizontal rib 32 of the same depth extends secantally across the upper portion of the rib 31 and terminates inwardly from the side portions of the rib 28 to provide a shelf-like portion. A;.small rectangular slot 34 is provided just above the rib 32 adjacent the midpoint thereof. Reinforcing bosses 36 with apertures 38 extending through the support member 18 are provided between the ribs 26, 28 for the fasteners 40 about the periphery of the support member 18, and the apertures 38 have enlarged portions at the face exposed in the pool to provide a flush seat for the heads of the fasteners 40.

Pivotably mounted on the support member 18 is a throttle plate 46 which has an integrally molded pin 42 on its hub portion 43 seated in an aperture (not shown) in the support member 18 and locked therein by a lock nut 44. The plate 46 has an aperture 48 dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the throttle aperture 22 and is readily pivoted by the molded tab 50 so that the throttle aperture 22 can be opened to the flow of water to any desired degree by varying the amount of registry of the apertures 22, 48 from the completely open position seen in FIGURE 7 to the completely closed position seen in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The vacuum cleaner aperture 24 may be opened or closed by rotation of the vacuum cleaner plate 52 which is similarly pivotably mounted on the face plate by a pin 53 molded on the support member 18 and lock nut 55. A molded tab 54 on the face thereof facilitates manipulation from the closed position shown in FIG- URE 1 to the open position shown in FIGURE 7. The holding of the plate 52 in the closed position is facilitated by a molded boss 56 on the support member 18 which seats in a recess (not shown) in the plate 52 and rotation into proper alignment is facilitated by the molded boss 58 on the support member. Also mounted on the support member 18 for vertical sliding movement above the rectangular slot 34 between the track ribs 190 is a slide member 60 with a slot 62 therein which receives the molded pin 64 on the support member 18 and is held thereon by the lock nut 66. An outwardly projecting tab 68 is provided at the upper end of the slide member 60 and the bottom end is rounded.

The housing 14 in the illustrated embodiment is provided by several separately molded pieces as best seen in FIGURE 3. The main housing is generally designated by the numeral 70 and has a front wall 72 with a large rectangular aperture therein of sufiicient dimension to encompass not only the large aperture 20 of the face member 12 but also the throttle and vacuum cleaner apertures 22, 24 so that liquid from the pool may flow readily into the housing 14 through whichever apertures may be open. A sidewall 74 of generally U-shaped crosssection extends horizontally therefrom and is somewhat lesser in dimension than the front wall 72 so that a flange portion 76 is provided thereabout. A short top wall 78 and a short bottom wall 80 also extend horizontally from the front wall 72 for a relatively short distance. Gussets 82 are molded between the front wall 72 and the sidewall 74, top wall 78 and bottom wall 80' about the periphery of the main housing 70 for enhanced strength, and molded cylindrical bosses 84 with apertures 86 therein are provided in alignment with the apertures 38 of the face member 12 to receive the fasteners 40.

The housing 14 includes a cover 88 which is dimensioned and configured to seat in the opening defined between the top wall 78 and the sidewall 74. The cover 88 has a forwardly extending lip 90 thereon which engages under the top wall 78 and a depending peripheral rib 92 extending rearwardly from the lip 90, and the rib 92 snaps into engagement with the inside surface of the sidewall 74. Removal of the cover 88 is facilitated by the finger hole 94.

Adhesively engaged with the bottom portion of the sidewall 74 of the main housing is a housing base generally designated by the numeral 96. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the housing base 96 has a frustoconical portion 98 and a U-shaped plate portion 100 about the upper edge thereof which abuts against the bottom Wall and the bottom edge of the sidewall 74. An upstanding flange 102 on the plate portion is of U-shaped crosssection and fits about the periphery of the bottom portion of the sidewall 74 which is of reduced dimension thereat. A cylindrical portion 104 depends from the frustoconical portion 98 and provides a fitting for a hose 99 as seen in FIGURE 1.

Seated on the plate portion 100 is the flange 106 of the strainer generally designated by the numeral 108. The frustoconical mesh portion 110 extends within the frustoconical portion 98 of the housing base 96 and is dimensioned to provide a spacing therebetween for free flow of water therethrough.

The float assembly 16 is seated in the main housing 70 and has a float base generally designated by the numeral 114 with a generally U-shaped plate portion 116 and a depending cylindrical portion 118.

An annular flange 120 extends inwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical portion 118 and an upstanding cylindrical wall 122 extends upwardly from the inner end thereof to provide an annular recess 124 between it and the cylindrical portion 118 surrounding the flow aperture 126. Bosses 128 are formed on the surface of the cylindrical wall 122 somewhat above the annular flange 120, the holes in the annular flange 120 seen in FIGURE 5 providing relief for the mold in making the bosses 128. A tab or tongue 130 at the forward end of the plate portion 116 extends through the slot 34 in the face member 12 and has a groove 132 in the upper surface thereof into which the slide member 60 extends to lock it in position. The rigidity of the forward portion of the float base is enhanced by the depending ribs 134 thereon.

Frictionally engaged on the bosses 128 of the float base 114 is one end of a tubular telescoping sleeve 136 of wirereinforced plastic material, readily extensible and compressible so as to provide a telescoping; element. The other end thereof is frictionally engaged on the bosses 138 formed on the external surface of the depending cylindrical portion 140 of the float generally designated by the numeral 142. The cylindrical portion 140 circumscribes a flow passage 144 and depends from the recessed portion 146 of the generally U-shaped plate portion 148, and the recessed portion 146 has a partial transverse wall 150 providing a generally semicircular aperture 151 and a hub 152 with an aperture therein. Rotatably mounted within the recessed portion 146' is a float disc 154, and the disc 154 and recessed portion 146 are cooperatively dimensioned to provide a flush top surface for the float. The disc 154 has a generally semicircular aperture 156 therein and a molded pin 158 on its hub 160 which extends through the aperture of the hub 152 of the recessed portion 146 and is held thereon by the lock nut 162. Turning thereof to open or close the aperture 150 is facilitated by the upstanding tab 164.

Extending upwardly about the periphery of the sides and rear of the plate portion 148 is the channel wall 166 which has upwardly extending arcuate bosses 168 thereon in general alignment with the hub 152 to deflect water flow toward the aperture 156. An outwardly extending flange 170 extends about the upper end of the channel wall 166, and an outer wall 172 depends therefrom to provide a downwardly opening recess 174 therebetween into which is inserted foamed synthetic plastic material 176 to provide enhanced buoyancy.

In the embodiment of base plate member shown in FIGURE 8, a pair of throttle apertures 202 of generally semicircular configuration is provided in the forward portion of the base plate 214. Pivotally mounted on the base plate 214 are throttle discs 204 which have integrally molded pins 208 on the hub portion thereof seated in apertures (not shown) in the base plate 214 and held thereon by lock nuts (not shown). The throttle discs 204 have generally semicircular openings 206 and are rotated to open or close the throttle apertures 202 to flow of water therethrough, and such rotation is facilitated by the molded tab 210 thereon.

In assembling the skimmer up on the sidewall 10 of a pool, sealing gaskets 178, 180 having apertures therein generally conforming to that in the front wall 72 of the main housing 70 are placed on both surfaces of the sidewall 10. When the face member 12 and housing 14 are drawn tightly against the gaskets 178, 180 by the fasteners 40 which are threadably engaged in the nuts 182, the material of the gaskets 178, 180 is deformed to provide a fluid-tight seal.

Turning now in detail to the operation of the illustrated embodiment, the throttle plate 46 will normally be in position so that its aperture 48 is in at least partial alignment with the throttle aperture 22 of the support mem ber 18 so as to permit passage of a selected volume of water therethrough. This amount or volume of Water is adjusted by rotation of the throttle plate 46 by means of the tab 50 thereon until the sight glass of the pump (not shown) is free from bubbles or the sound of the pump indicates a desired flow of water therethrough. In normal operation of the skimmer, the vacuum cleaner plate 52 is in the closed position seen in FIGURE 1, and the disc 154 of the float 142 is rotated so that its semicircular aperture 156 is in at least partial registry with the semicircular aperture 151 in the recessed portion 146. f

In this condition, water is flowing from the pool through the throttle apertures 48, 22 and into the body of the housing 14 from which it is discharged through the cylindrical portion 104 after it passes through the strainer 108 which serves to remove any readily screenable debris. This water is conducted by the hose 99 to the pump and filter (not shown) and is then returned therefrom to the pool through another hose (not shown) and back into the body of the pool through a fitting (not shown) in the sidewall 10. In some instances depending upon the size of the pool and the size of the pump, it may be desirable to open the vacuum cleaner plate 52 so as to provide additional water flow through the vacuum cleaner aperture 24.

Although the float 142 is relatively low in density and therefore buoyant in the water with the disc 154 in the fully open position, it will normally tend to float with the upper surface of the plate portion 148 about A to 1 inch below the surface of the water so that a surface portion containing the scum and debris will tend to flow into the channel thereof defined by the channel wall 166. With the aperture 156 in the disc 154 fully aligned with the aperture 151 in the recessed portion 146, the water entering into the channel of the float 142 will rapidly flow through the aligned apertures 156, 151 and thence through the strainer 108 and cylindrical portion 104 into the hose 99 for transport to the filter (not shown). As the disc 154 is rotated to restrict the size of the flow passage, the water within the float 142 will not pass therethrough so readily and the weight thereof will cause the float 142 to sink deeper into the water and thus provide a greater depth of action with respect to the water in the pool. As the depth of 7 water in the float 142 increases, the pressure of the Water above the float surface increases the volume of flow through the apertures 156, 151.

When it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner to remove such debris as may have accumulated below the surface of the water, the hose coupling 33 may be inserted readily into the vacuum aperture 24 by rotating the vacuum cleaner plate 52 into the open position seen in FIGURE 7. The throttle plate 46 is also rotated toward or into the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 and the disc 154 is rotated into the closed position so that the suction of the pump (not shown) is essentially directed throuhg the hose coupling 33.

Periodically the strainer 108 must be removed to dispose of the debris which has collected therein. This operation is relatively simple and begins with removal of the cover 88 by insertion of a finger into the finger hole 94 and by pivoting the cover 88 upwardly about the lip 90. Because of the resilience of the material of the housing 14, is will spread sufliciently to allow the rib 92 of the cover 88 to disengage therefrom. The slide member 60 on the face member 12 is moved to the upper end of its path of travel so as to free the tab or tongue 130 of the float base 114, and then a hand is inserted into the housing 14 to grip the float 142 at its rear end and pivot it upwardly about the tongue 130 so that the tongue 130 may be withdrawn from the slot 34 in the face member 12. Then the float assembly 16 can be removed in its entirety from the housing 14 through the opening in the top of the housing 14 by keeping it in the partially pivoted position. At this time, the strainer 108 is fully exposed and may be readily removed for cleaning. To reassemble the skimmer, the procedure described above is reversed.

However, the procedure can also be effected through the large aperture 20 and this is particularly beneficial when the cover 88 may not be accessible or when the pool is installed under decking or below ground or when the housing is otherwise inaccessible. After release of the slide member 60 from the tab 130 of the float base 114, the hand may be inserted therethrough to grip the float 142 at its rear or inner end and pivot it upwardly about the tongue 130. After withdrawal of the tongue 130 from the slot 34, the whole float assembly may be lifted out through the aperture 20. Then the strainer 108 may be gripped and lifted out through the aperture 20. To reassemble the unit, the procedure is reversed.

The skimmer of the present invention is readily installed on the sidewall 10 of swimming pools and the like by a procedure which is described with special reference to metal walled pools of the type employing a liner (not shown) of synthetic plastic. After the sidewall 10 of the pool has been erected and the liner (not shown) adjusted into its permanent position, the gaskets 178, 180 are applied to the face member 12 and housing 14 and are preferably cemented in place. In accordance with preferred practice, the gaskets 178, 180 have apertures therein which align with the apertures 38, 86 of the face member 12 and housing 14 so as to facilitate assembly. Similarly, holes in the sidewall 10 of the pool are prepunched or drilled to correspond with those of the skimmer. The housing 14 is placed against the outside of the pool wall 10 and is properly aligned with the opening therein by insertion of one or more fasteners 40 after puncturing of the liner (not shown) with a nail or the like. The face member 12 is then placed against the inside surface of the wall 10 and the two parts are assembled by insertion of the fasteners 40 therethrough. After all of the fasteners are in position and tightened, then the liner (not shown) is cut out in the area of the large aperture and the smaller throttle and vacuum apertures 22, 24. The tightening of the fasteners 40 will cause the gaskets 178, 180 to be deformed under the pressure applied to provide a good watertight seal about the periphery of the face member 12.

Thus, the skimmer assembly of the present invention is ideal from installation, adjustment and maintenance standpoints. The float assembly and strainer may be removed readily from the inside of the pool, and the volume of water flowing past the float assembly into the discharge passage of the housing or bypassing the float assembly may be varied readily from the inside of the pool. The preferred structure has a throttle aperture in the face member for most facile adjustment; however, the throttle aperture may be in the base plate of the float assembly or in the float member. Desirably, the aperture in the float member has a throttle or control means thereon to control the depth of skimming as well as to adjust the volume of flow into the housing.

The ability to plug the vacuum cleaner hose into the face member is extremely beneficial, and the entire volume of water flow passes through the strainer. The housing and/or float assembly have means to close the flow passage(s) into the housing so that the suction of the pump may be concentrated in the vacuum cleaner aperture.

It will be readily appreciated that there may be various modifications from the illustrated embodiment within the essential concept of a self-contained skimmers with a face member providing a principal or relatively large flow opening and at least one relatively small flow aperture having control means thereover for varying the size of the relatively small flow aperture, and a float assembly which will restrict the flow of water from the tank through the relatively large aperture into the discharge passage of the housing of the skimmer.

The several parts of the skimmer are preferably fabricated from synthetic plastic material such a polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS (graft copolymers of styrene/ acrylonitrile on butadiene or other rubbers) or like materials have good impact resistance and low temperature properties so as to provide long life and relative freedom from corrosion or chemical attack as the result of the chemicals usually contained in the pool. Although thermoforming and compression molding may be used where the configuration of the several components permits, injection molding of synthetic plastic material has proven particularly advantageous.

Thus it can be seen from the foregoing detailed description and the illustrated embodiment that the present invention provides a novel self-contained skimmer for the sidewall of swimming pools and the like which enables close control of the depth of water skimmed from the surface during use as well as the volume of water withdrawn from below the surface of the pool to permit effective and trouble free operation of the pump and filter. The skimmer of the present invention enables a vacuum cleaner attachment to be plugged into it Without disassembly of the parts and provides for flow of the water therefrom through the strainer or other filtering element which may be incorporated therein.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In a skimmer for mounting on the sidewall of a tank containing a liquid, the combination comprising:

(A) a face member having a principal flow opening therein of relatively large size;

(B) a housing having a front wall with at least one aperture therein providing a flow passage thereinto from said flow opening in said face member and a flow passage outwardly from the housing below the aperture in the front wall and adjacent the lower end thereof for discharge of liquid therefrom;

(C) a float assembly in said housing including a float member adapted to rise and fall substantially vertically with change in the level of water in said housing, a base member secured in said housing below said relatively large flow opening and a telescoping sleeve extending between said base member and said float member, said float and base members having apertures therein about which said sleeve extends to provide a flow passage from the upper surface of said float member through said sleeve and into the bottom portion of said housing for discharge of liquid through said discharge flow passage, at least one of said face member and said base plate of said float assembly having a relatively small flow opening therein providing for passage of liquid into the interior of said housing below said base plate; (D) control means in at least one of said float member aperture and said relatively small flow opening for varying the flow of liquid from the tank through the controlled passage into said housing and into said flow passage outwardly therefrom, said control means providing adjustability of flow rate through a multiplicity of flow rates; and

(E) means for securing said face member and housing in assembly on opposite surfaces of the sidewall of a tank.

2. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said relatively small flow opening is in said face member below said principal flow opening and said control means is on said face member, said front wall of said housing providing a flow passage from both of said flow openings in said face member, said float member being adapted to restrict the flow of liquid passing from the tank into said flow passage outwardly of said housing.

3. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said face member has two flow openings of relatively small size below said prineipal flow opening, said control means being on said face member for varying the size of one of said relatively small flow openings, and wherein said face member includes a sealing element for closing the relatively small flow opening other than that having said control means, said flow opening with said sealing element being adapted to receive the end of a vacuum cleaner hose.

4. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said telescoping sleeve is an accordion-like pleated element that is readily extensible and compressible.

5. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said float member has said control means thereon for varying the size of the flow aperture therein.

6. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said float member has an upstanding wall about the flow aperture to provide a channel opening at said face member for receiving liquid passing therethrough.

7. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said base member has at least one additional flow aperture therein outwardly of said sleeve providing said relatively small flow opening and wherein said control means is on said base member.

8. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said float member includes buoyant means providing enhanced buoyancy thereto.

9. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said skimmer includes a strainer member removably mounted in said housing above said discharge flow passage therefrom, and wherein said skimmer includes means releasably engaging said float assembly in said housing and said float assembly is removable from said housing to permit access to said strainer member for removal of the strainer member.

10. The skimmer of claim 9 wherein said housing has a removable cover in the top wall thereof.

11. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein said control means is a rotatable member having a flow aperture therein whereby the effective area of the flow passage through the relatively small flow opening may be varied by varying the alignment of the flow opening and flo-w aperture.

12. In a skimmer for mounting on the sidewall of a tank containing a liquid, the combination comprising:

(A) a face member having a principal flow opening therein of relatively large size and at least one other flow opening of relatively small size therebelow, said face member having control mean thereon for varying the size of said flow opening of relatively small size;

(B) a housing having a front wall with at least one aperture therein providing a flow passage thereinto from both of said flow openings in said face member and a flow passage outwardly from the housing below the aperture in the front wall and adjacent the lower end thereof for discharge of liquid therefrom;

(C) a float assembly in said housing above said flow opening of relatively small size including a float member adapted to rise and fall substantially vertically with change in the level of water in said housing and to restrict the flow of liquid passing from the tank into said flow passage outwardly of said housing, a base member secured in said housing above said flow passage and between said relatively large flow opening and said relatively small flow opening of said face member, and a telescoping sleeve extending between said float and base members, said float and base members having apertures about which said sleeve extends to provide a flow passage from the upper surface of said float member through said sleeve and into the bottom portion of said housing for discharge of liquid through said discharge flow passage, said control means permitting passage of a variable amount of liquid from the tank through said relatively small flow opening into said housing and into said flow passage outwardly therefrom, said control means providing adjustability of flow rate through a multiplicity of flow rates; and

(D). means for securing said face member and housing in assembly on opposite surfaces of the sidewall of a tank.

13. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said face member ha two flow openings of relatively small size and a sealing element for closing the relatively small flow opening other than that having said control means, said flow opening with said sealing element being adapted to receive the end of a vacuum cleaner hose.

14. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said telescoping sleeve is an accordion-like pleated element that is readily extensible and compressible.

15. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said float member has control means thereon for varying the size of the flow aperture therein.

16. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said float member has an upstanding wall about the flow aperture to provide a channel opening at said face member for receiving liquid passing therethrough.

17. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said control means is a rotatable member having a flow aperture therein whereby the effective area of the relatively small flow opening through the face member may be varied by varying the alignment of the flow opening and flow aperture.

18. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said float assembly includes control means on said float member for varying the effective size of the flow aperture in said float member, both of said control means comprising a rotatable member having a flow aperture therein whereby the effective area of the flow aperture through the float member may be varied by varying the alignment of the flow aperture in said rotatable member and the flow aperture in said float member.

19. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said base member has at least one additional flow aperture therein outwardly of said sleeve and a control means thereon for varying the size of the said flow opening so that a variable amount of liquid from the tank may pas therethrough.

20. The skimmer of claim 12 wherein said skimmer includes a strainer member removably mounted in said housing above said discharge flow passage therefrom, and wherein said skimmer includes means releasably engaging said float assembly in said housing and said float assembly is removable from said housing to permit ac- 1 1 cess to said strainer member for removal of the strainer member.

21. The skimmer of claim 13 wherein said telescoping sleeve is an accordion-like pleated element that is readily extensible and compressible and wherein said float member has control means thereon for varying the size of the flow aperture therein.

22. In a skimmer for mounting on the sidewall of a tank containing a liquid, the combination comprising:

(A) a face member having a principal flow opening therein of relatively large size and at least one other flow opening of relatively small size therebelow, said face member including a sealing element for closing said flow opening of relatively small size, said relatively small flow opening being dimensioned and configured to permit the insertion thereinto of a vacuum cleaner hose;

(B) a housing having a front wall with at least one aperture therein providing a flow passage thereinto from both of said flow openings in said face member and a flow passage outwardly from the housing below the aperture in the front wall and adjacent the lower end thereof for discharge of liquid therefrom;

(C) a float assembly in said housing above said flow opening of relatively small size including a float member adapted to rise and fall substantially vertically with changes in the level of water in said housing and to restrict the flow of liquid passing from the tank into said flow passage outwardly of said housing, a base member secured in said housing between said relatively large flow opening and said relatively small flow opening and a telescoping sleeve extending between said base member and said float member, said float andbase members having apertures therein about which said sleeve extends to provide a flow passage from the upper surface of said float member through said sleeve into the bottom portion of said housing, said vacuum cleaner flow opening permitting passage of liquid from the tank through the hose into said housing and into said flow passage outwardly from said housing, said float member having control means thereon for closure of the aperture therein to preclude substantially the flow of liquid from the tank into said housing except through said vacuum cleaner flow opening so that the vacuum of the pump may be concentrated therein; and

(D) means for securing said face member and housing in assembly on opposite surfaces of the sidewall of a tank.

23. The skimmer of claim 22 wherein said skimmer includes a strainer member removably mounted in said housing above said discharge flow passage therefrom, and wherein said skimmer includes means releasably engaging said float assembly in said housing and said float assembly is removable from said housing to permit access to 12 said strainer member for removal of the strainer member.

24. The skimmer of claim 3 wherein said float member includes control means for closure of the aperture therein.

25. The skimmer of claim 13 wherein said float member includes control means for closure of the aperture therein.

26. In a skimmer for mounting on the sidewall of a tank containing a liquid, the combination comprising:

(A) a housing assembly having an interior chamber, a principal flow opening of relatively large size in one face thereof communicating with said interior chamber and a flow passage outwardly from said chamber of said housing below said principal flow opening and adjacent the lower end of said housing assembly for discharge of liquid therefrom;

(B) a float assembly in said chamber of said housing including a float member adapted to rise and fall substantially vertically with the level of water in said housing and to restrict the flow of liquid passing from the tank into said flow passage outwardly of said housing assembly, a base member secured in said housing assembly below said relatively large flow opening and a telescoping sleeve extending between said base member and said float member, said float and base members having apertures therein about which said sleeve extends to provide a flow passage from the upper surface of said float member through said sleeve and into the bottom portion of said housing assembly for discharge of liquid through said discharge flow passage; and

(C) control means on said float member for varying the effective size of the flow aperture therein to vary the flow of liquid from the tank through said float assembly, said control means providing adjustability of flow rate through a multiplicity of flow rates 27. The skimmer of claim 26 wherein said base member has at least one additional flow aperture therein outwardly of said sleeve and wherein said base member has control means thereon for varying the effective size of said additional flow aperture to regulate the flow of liquid therethrough.

28. The skimmer of claim 26 wherein said float member has an upstanding wall about the flow aperture therein to provide a channel opening at said one face for receiving liquid passing therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,879 12/1962 Baker 210-469 X 3,428,178 2/1969 Nash 210169 X 3,443,264 5/1969 Miller 210l69 X REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner T. A. GRANGER, Assistant Examiner 

